UK Sees Booming Demand After Danish Law Change

On 1 January 2025, a new law comes into effect in Denmark enabling lesbian couples to donate eggs to each other. A Danish fertility clinic is already experiencing a great increase in demand from British couples.

Up until now, lesbian couples in Denmark have not been allowed to donate eggs to each other through the ROPA method (Reception of Oocytes from PArtner) without a health professional first deeming it necessary. The method is also known as shared motherhood or reciprocal IVF. However, starting on 1 January 2025, a law change in Denmark will permit a woman to donate eggs to her partner without obtaining a medical certificate. Danish fertility clinic Diers Fertility Clinic is already feeling the impact of the legislative change.

– In the past few months, we’ve experienced a huge increase in the share of British couples asking us about shared motherhood through partner donation. Reciprocal IVF treatment was previously only possible with medical justification but the fact that it will soon be available for all is really great and will allow us to meet the great demand we’re experiencing from Great Britain, says Liza Diers, founder and owner of Diers Fertility Clinic which is based in Aarhus, Denmark.

Huge Step Toward Equality

While partner donation is still banned in most of Europe, Liza Diers hopes that the legislative change in Denmark could put the issue in the spotlight in other countries, as shared motherhood comes with several advantages for the couples involved.

– Shared motherhood is extremely important to a lot of our customers, which is something we see and hear from them. Both partners feeling like biological mothers can help strengthen the shared connection and intensify mothers’ maternal instincts. At the same time, both mothers feel more included in the process and share the excitement along the way, while no one feels like they’ve been left out, says Liza Diers, elaborating:

– At our clinic, we are waving the rainbow flag! There’s no doubt that the law change in Denmark is a significant milestone for autonomy and inclusion in the fertility field. We must now keep up the momentum and capitalize on the attention. I deeply hope that this will push more countries around Europe to look into their fertility legislation in order for us to secure equal rights for all who need fertility treatment to fulfill their dreams of having children.

World Leader in Fertility Treatment

Denmark is one of the leading countries in the world in fertility treatment, and with one in eight children being conceived through IVF treatment, Denmark has the highest proportion of IVF-born children in the world. Fertility tourism to the country is also thriving. A fifth of fertility treatments are received by women from abroad and more than half of IVF treatment specifically involving egg freezing or donation is performed for on non-native women.

– Most of our clients at the clinic are not from Denmark, as is the case for many Danish clinics. This demonstrates that Denmark has a well-respected fertility program, and there is no doubt that getting treated here is in high demand abroad, partly due to our expertise, prices, and short waiting times, says Liza Diers.

In Denmark, the number of foreign lesbian couples undergoing IVF treatment in the past ten years has increased by almost 50%. According to Liza Diers, the number of non-native clients undergoing IUI treatment has increased by over 80% in the past year, which is why it comes as no surprise to her that Danish IVF treatment has become increasingly popular among Brits.

– Our research and development in fertility treatment in Denmark is very advanced. That’s also our reputation around the world. Combined with the ease and affordability of flying from Great Britain to Aarhus and the rest of Denmark, it makes sense that more lesbian women choose to go abroad to receive IVF treatment, says Liza Diers.